EmmDev 2015-10-26 [Month of Mission 2015] We need the boldness and power of the Holy Spirit

We need the boldness and power of the Holy Spirit

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline...      (2Timothy1:7-9)

Now evidently, Timothy became a little fearful in the exercise of his gifts And I think that FEAR is a tool that Satan often uses to discourage our exercises of the gifts of the Spirit. "I don't know what people are going to think, you know, if I say that to them." And we have his fear that many times restricts us from the exercise of gifts. But "God hasn't given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, love, and a sound mind" (2Ti 1:7). Spirit of power. Oh, thank God, the spirit of love, how important, and a sound mind.

"So...Do not be ashamed then of the testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but share in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God" (2Ti 1:8)

Now there are a lot of situations where we can just keep our mouths shut and stay out of trouble when we really ought to be opening our mouths and getting into trouble. You know, when people are saying blasphemous things we can just keep our mouth shut and sort of shrug. Or we can say to them, "Do you realize what you are saying? What a filthy mouth you have! Doesn't it bother you to have such a filthy mind and mouth?" Can we be bold enough to say to people when they are using the name of Jesus in a blasphemous way, "Hey, that hurts me. You're talking about a man who I love more than anyone else, who died to save me from my sins, and it hurts me to hear you talk about Him that way." Well, people sometimes get upset and they, look like, "Who do you think you are?" you know, and all that kind of stuff.

But yet Paul tells Timothy that "God has given us the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind." Therefore, don't be ashamed of our Lord but be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. "They who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).

Let us overcome the bumps and barriers through boldness and power of the Holy Spirit.
SHALOM
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Jane Nyirongo is Minister Garden Presbyterian in Lusaka Mchinga Presbytery. Moderator synod of Zambia. Proud mother of three, and grandmother of four. Served the Lord in full time ministry for 26 years.

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